MTR gets rail smart in race against time

Stacy Shi

MTR Corp has adopted two smart systems to collect data on tracks and wheels while trains are in operation.

They enable staff to carry out preventive repairs, improving daily maintenance efficiency and facilitating better management of railroad assets, said chief of operations engineering services and innovation, Chan Hing-keung.

Two "smart passenger instrumented revenue trains" equipped with track data sensors have been operating on each line.

Also, the self-developed "smart train wheel monitoring system" has been trialed on the Tsuen Wan line.

The costs of these systems are included in the more than HK$100 billion that the MTRC has invested in new projects.

Chan said staff have to make the most the "golden two hours" of non-traffic hours overnight to complete routine maintenance, asset renewals and new projects.

"With the expansion of the railway network and a number of new rail projects in the pipeline, more than 200 tasks are completed every night in a race against time," he said.

Smart systems have therefore been introduced to enhance real-time monitoring and big data analyses, helping maintenance staff make better use of train operating hours and improve efficiency.

The smart trains use vibration sensors and laser detection cameras to collect data on track conditions, such as unevenness and rail gauge. This data is transmitted to the company's data studio for analysis.

"In April, the data revealed an upward trend in vibration amplitude, leading to the discovery of abrasion in a turnout, which was then addressed," Chan said.

"Continuous monitoring of track conditions can also assist staff in identifying potential problems, predicting the development trend of risks, and arranging the order of maintenance work required."

Unlike the track monitoring sensors, wheel monitoring systems are installed at the trackside facilities.

"The smart monitoring system has been able to notify the detection of potential anomalies as early as one month prior to the repair."